Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
EMPIRE STYLE
From 1804–15, Napoléon I reigned as the emperor of France, bringing the country into a new era of opulence after the fall of the monarchy and the tumultuous years of the French Revolution. He declared, “We must have very solid things, made to last 100 years.” Empire-style furniture followed suit, with imposing pieces constructed from mahogany and adorned with gilded ornaments. Expanding on the neoclassicism popularized in the previous century — such as in Louis XVI style — Empire style borrowed from the great civilizations of antiquity, from Egypt to Greece and Rome, to connect this nascent empire to the power of the past.
Napoléon I believed the production of fine furniture would reflect the stature of the republic, with his official architects Charles Percier and Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine leading the way with their work on his residences.
Luxurious materials, symmetrical shapes and bold colors characterize antique Empire-style bedroom furniture, armchairs, cabinets and other structures, with frequent motifs including mythological creatures, geometric designs, acanthus leaves, eagles, bees (the imperial emblem) and swans, a favorite of Empress Joséphine.
Flat surfaces, like marble tabletops, were accented with decadent details, such as the bronze furniture mounts made by sculptor Pierre-Philippe Thomire for the French palaces. Martin-Guillaume Biennais, who worked as the imperial goldsmith, crafted intricate luxury objects that mixed wood, fine metal, mother-of-pearl and ivory. Ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — was essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.
The style became popular abroad, influencing the American Empire style. Stately pieces carved with sprigs of olives by cabinetmaker Pierre-Antoine Bellange were acquired by American President James Monroe for the White House in 1817.
Find a collection of antique Empire tables, lighting, seating and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Style: Empire
Color: Gold
Fabulous French Empire Patinated and Gilt Bronze 9-Light Glass Torch Chandelier
Located in Coimbra, PT
Spectacular large neoclassical French Empire chococate brown patinated and gilt bronze 9-light chandelier with faux candle sockets
Measures:
Diameter 27.6 in/ 70 cm
Height 35.5 in/ ...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
Napoleon III Period Gilt and Patinated Bronze Chandelier
Located in London, GB
This unusual chandelier is designed in the Empire style from gilt and patinated bronze in the form of an ancient Roman terracotta or earthenwa...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Large French Empire Style Glass and Gilt Bronze 18-Light Chandelier
Located in London, GB
This 19th century French chandelier is designed in the Empire style and wrought from gilt bronze and strings of cut glass. The chandelier features a lower dome-shaped body below an o...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of Gilded and Sculpted Bronze Candlesticks, Empire Period
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of gilded and sculpted bronze candlesticks from the Empire period. The socket is very intricately sculpted with beading and foliage. Beneath the socket, three female busts face ...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
Bronze Empire Style Ram's Head Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
Six-arm Empire style ram's head chandelier. Solid brass and cast bronze and heavy. Has great patina. In working condition.
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Brass, Bronze
French Bronze Empire Style Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
French bronze Empire style chandelier with the goddess Demeter as the center finial.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
Interesting Late 19th-Early 20th Century Gilt Bronze Empire Style Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
An interesting late 19th-early 20th century gilt bronze empire style sixteen light chandelier
Four long chains connect the top with the body, eight gilt sphinx encircle and light ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
Impressive Large French Empire Patinated & Gilt Bronze 8 Etched Globe Chandelier
Located in Coimbra, PT
Spectacular neoclassical French Empire gilt bronze 8-light chandelier, oxidized an gold-plated solid bronze
8-light bulbs E 14/good working condition
Measures:
Diameter 27.6 in/ 70 c...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
Swedish Black & Gilt Bronze Eagle Empire Chandelier, Early 1800's
Located in San Francisco, CA
An Empire-style, black and gold chandelier made in Sweden circa 1830. In a bowl-form with 5 candle-style lights with finely cast, eagle head...
Category
1820s Swedish Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
Empire Gilt Bronze and Cut Crystal Chandelier, circa 1815
Located in Rome, IT
Finely chiseled gilt bronze and cut crystal Empire elegant chandelier with six arms.
Six E 14 light bulbs.
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Pair of Empire Bronze Three Branched Candelabras
By Percier & Fontaine
Located in Paris, FR
Impressive pair of gilt and sculpted bronze candelabras with three branches. The stem of each candelabrum is a patinated bronze form of the winged goddess, Victory, who holds a gilt ...
Category
1810s Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Style Triple Tiered Crystal and Bronze Chandelier
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An empire style chandelier in gilded bronze and cut crystal. The large central ring is embellished with palmettes and wreaths and supports beaded chains and long crystal French drops...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century Swedish Empire Gilt-Bronze and Cut-Glass Chandelier
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A fine early 19th century Swedish five-light crystal chandelier. The rim supporting four candle branches and a central candle nozzle above a tiered base hung with glass lustres, conn...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Early 19th Century, French Empire Gilded Bronze and Crystal Chandelier
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A period French Empire crystal and gilt bronze nine candle bell shaped chandelier of the highest quality; the circular corona surmounted by palm shaped fin...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
French Empire Influenced Chandelier, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th century French Empire influenced chandelier, having a coronet with chains hanging down to the chandelier that has twelve branch sconces each with swan heads, a fl...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
French 1870s Empire Style Bronze and Metal Six-Light Chandelier with Palmettes
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire style bronze and metal six-light chandelier from the late 19th century, with palmettes and profiled links. Born in France during the third quarter of the 19th century...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Antique Chandelier, Empire Style Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
Superb quality eight-light Empire style bronze chandelier, exquisite detail. Originally for candles, now electrified.
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
Empire Revival Gilt-Bronze and Cut-Glass Pendant Chandelier, circa 1910
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An Empire Revival gilt-bronze and cut-glass pendant chandelier.
French, circa 1910.
Of globular form this fine chandelier has a central gilt-bronze band cast with vases issuin...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
French Gilt Bronze Chandelier with Eagle Heads and Arrows, 1930s
Located in Wiesbaden, Hessen
A large French empire style six-light gilt and patinated bronze chandelier with eagle heads and arrows, circa 1930s.
Socket: 6 x E14 for standard screw bulb.
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
Fine Empire Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze Three-Light Chandelier, circa 1900
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine Empire style gilt and patinated bronze three-light chandelier, with a circular corona cast with stiff leaves and a pine cone boss above reeded suspension rods with swan termin...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
Louis XVI Regency Empire Crystal and Bronze Twelve-Light Wedding Cake Chandelier
Located in Coimbra, PT
Stunning large French Empire cut crystal and bronze twelve-light chandelier with crystal drops and swags
Measures:
Diameter 26 in/ 66 cm
Height 40 in / 100 cm
Weight 34 lb/16 Kg
Twel...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
French Empire Neoclassical Doré Bronze Twelve-Light Tassel Chandelier Fixture
Located in Roslyn, NY
This wonderful doré bronze twelve-light chandelier has a wonderful top with draped swag, etched detail throughout and cherubs accenting the top.
Measures: 24" W x 32" H.
Category
1940s French Vintage Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
French Early 19th Century Empire Crystal-Cut and Gilt-Bronze Basket Chandelier
Located in Berlin, DE
French Early 19th Century Empire Crystal-Cut and Gilt-Bronze Basket Chandelier
A finely proportioned Empire gilt bronze and crystal-cut nine light tent and bag Chandelier. With an a...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Empire Bronze Crystal Chandelier, with Fire-Gilded Swans, 19th Century
Located in Berlin, DE
Extremely decorative, heavy and high quality Empire chandelier,
19th century.
No replica. Staffed with five magnificent, fire-gilded bronze swans.
This chandelier impresses with its uniqueness.
The swan is the symbol animal of the Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
French Empire Gilt Bronze Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
French Empire (circa 1820) bronze & gilt trimmed chandelier with 8 scroll arms emanating from a circular corona with an acorn drop finial and suspended by 4 foliate chains.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
Fine French Empire Style Cut-Crystal Tent and Bag Chandelier
Located in Berlin, DE
A fine gilt-bronze cut-crystal tent and bag chandelier with a corona in the form of a crown made of small facetted pearls above a fine bronze b...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Empire Bronze and Glass Chandelier with Beliers
Located in Weiningen, CH
Empire bronze and glass chandelier with beliers.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
First French Empire Style Chandelier, Six Lights
Located in Miami, FL
Elegant and heavy first French Empire style chandelier in Bronze made in France in the 1940.
Takes six lights 60 watts max per bulb.
Original patina, good vintage condition.
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Gilt Bronze and Crystal Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
French Empire (circa 1810) gilt bronze and cut glass chandelier with cut crystal strands emanating from a gilt bronze center ring with 8 arms.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
French Empire Style Bronze Dore Caryatid Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) bronze and dore trim 8 scroll arm chandelier with 4 caryatid females.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
Antique Russian Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
Exquisite and superbly detailed gilt bronze and crystal chandelier for candles, can be electrified.
Category
Late 18th Century Russian Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Impressive French Empire Chandelier, Firegilded Bronze with Alabaster 1830s
Located in Salzburg, AT
Impressive fire-gilded Empire chandelier with very fine imperial and classicist ornaments, which are
shade is made of alabaster,
The lamp body is framed by a surrounding leaf frieze,...
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Alabaster, Bronze
20th Century Empire Style Basket Chandelier
Located in Berlin, DE
Classicist basket chandelier in Empire style.
Finely engraved Bronze. Adorned with engraved swans and pearl cords.
(F-Ra-19).
Category
20th Century Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A late 19th century French Empire-style chandelier with gilt and painted finish.
Measurements:
Diameter: 18"
Height: 26.5".
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
Near Pair of Vintage French Empire Style Crystal Gilded Chandeliers Early 1900's
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair, well not exactly, but I believe the proper term is near pair of old French crystal chandeliers, that although made by the same company, they are about a 95% match. Unless you look very carefully, one would never suspect there was any difference between the pair of French crystal chandeliers...
Category
1910s French Vintage Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
20th C Bronze French Empire Atlas Chandelier w/ 6 Lights
Located in New York, NY
Early 20th century highly detailed bronze French Empire bronze chandelier. Features three male Atlas figures holding up the upper hub of the chandelier resting on their backs. Comes ...
Category
20th Century French Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
Large French Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Crystal Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
Large French Empire style chandelier in finely chased gilt bronze and hand cut crystal. 12 exterior lighted candles and eight interior fittings for chandelier sized bulbs.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Empire Candelabra Made circa 1800, Claude Galle
By Claude Galle
Located in Stockholm, SE
A pair of French candelabra made circa year 1800. Dark patinated and gilt bronze. On columns are two mermaids sitting. The columns have ornaments of roosters facing each other.
At...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Empire Style Gilt Bronze 8 Light Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
Handsome 19th century Empire style gilt bronze 8 light chandelier. Beautiful decorative details on the bronze. A classic style and very ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal, Bronze
19th Century Empire Chandelier with Full Figure Swan Arms
Located in Stamford, CT
19th century empire chandelier with full figure swan arms. This simply stunning doré bronze chandelier has full bodied swans holding three candlestick lights...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Large and Important Antique French Empire Gilt Bronze Chandeliers
Located in New York, NY
Pair of large and spectacular important antique French Empire neoclassical gilt bronze and white patinated multi light chandeliers of superb quality and detail. These chandelier are ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
Three-Light Empire Style Bronze and Gilt Bronze Chandelier, French
Located in San Francisco, CA
Patinated bronze three-light chandelier with gilt bronze accents. Recently rewired, chain length can be adjusted to accommodate specific length. French, empire style, circa 1880.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
Empire chandeliers and pendants for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire chandeliers and pendants for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage chandeliers and pendants created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire chandeliers and pendants made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original chandeliers and pendants, popular names associated with this style include Gherardo Degli Albizzi, Maison Baguès, Arno Fassi, and Baccarat. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for chandeliers and pendants differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $260 and tops out at $220,000 while the average work can sell for $7,017.
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